Protective cover for surfaces at sinks



S p 1956 G. w. BARTON 2,762,062

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR SURFACES AT SINKS Filed June 18, 1951 IN V EN TOR.aerald WBarZOn/ ATTORNEY United States Patent PROTECTIVE COVER FORSURFACES AT SINKS Gerald W. Barton, Flint, Mich.

Application June 18, 1951, Serial No. 232,185

1 Claim. (Cl. 4189) The present invention relates to protectiveattachments for covering surface areas of table tops and walls adjacentsinks and for draining water splashed thereon into the sinks.

The invention is especially adapted for use in conjunction with kitchencabinet structures having sinks built into table tops of cupboards andwith linoleum covering said table tops and lower portions of verticalback walls of the cabinets. In some cabinets of this type, a singlepiece of linoleum is used to cover the horizontal flat table top and thevertical back wall by providing a coved cornet and bending the linoleumaround the curvature of the cove; while in other cases, the edges ofseparate pieces of linoleum are joined at the corners by metal strips.Usually, the pieces or portions of linoleum with cutouts for the sinkopenings slightly overlap the continuous fiat rims of the sinks and havemetal strips around the edges of the cutouts that are cemented togetherwith the linoleum to the rim of the sinks. Such joints, together withthe fact that the table tops are usually flat, cause build-ups of higherelevations completely around the sing opening preventing any possibledrainage with a result that the linoleum, besides being discolored,deteriorates by continual accumulation of water thereon and permitsseepage of moisture into the underlying wood of the table tops. Thismoisture, prior to its damaging of the Wood by rot, causes the wood toswell and Warp, thus breaking cemented joints and permitting a greaterquantity of water to enter the wooden structural parts to cause furtherdestruction thereto.

it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a protectivecover for surfaces of linoleum at a sink where water is most commonlysplashed, which is constructed and arranged for draining water splashedthereon into the sink, which is of a material impervious to moisture,and which is adapted to be applied to newly installed cabinets toprevent damage thereto or for a repairing attachment to cover updiscolored and damaged linoleum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a substantially L-shapedprotective cover for surfaces of linoleum around a sink and adapted forslight alterations thereto for effecting watertight attachment tovarying cabinet constructions and especially different manners oflinoleum application to the cabinet.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedprotective cover for linoleum at sinks which is simple and substantialin construction, which can be manufactured economically, which can beconveniently attached in place, and which will be thoroughly efiicientand practical in use.

These, together with various auxiliary features and objects of theinvention which will later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, preferred embodimentsof which have been illustrated, by way of examples only, in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a cabinet showing theimproved protective cover attached in place for draining water into asink;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is another vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the protectivecover attached to a different type of linoleum application to a cabinet;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, vertical cross section through the unattachedprotective cover and showing in dotted lines slight alterations made tothe cover for attachment to a different type of linoleum application;

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing a modifiedform of the invention wherein the protective cover completely surroundsthe opening to the sink; and

Figire 7 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken on line 77 of Figure6.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings whereinlike numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,attention is directed first to Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate 'aportion of a cabinet having a back wall it), together with a lower frontwall 11, supporting a table top 12 into which is built .a sink 13. Thewalls 10 and 11 and the table top 12 are usually constructed of wood,either solid boards or plywood, which must be protected against moistureto retain their proper sizes and shapes. Where the sink 13 is arrangedin the table top 12, there is provided an opening 14, and the wood atthe edges of the opening is rabbeted, as at 15, to a depth equal to thethickness of a continuous flat rim 16 on the sink located therein andflush with the upper surface of the wood table top. The linoleum 17 thatcovers the wood table top 12 also has a cutout for the sink which is ofa size that the edges of the cutouts slightly overlap the rim 16 of thesink, as at 18, where said edges are confined in a recessed metalmolding 19 extending around the sink opening and attached to the Woodtable top by screws 20.

When a single piece of linoleum 17 is to cover both the wood table top12 and a short portion of the back wall 10, the corner joining saidtable top and back wall usually is coved, as at 21, for permitting agradual bending of the linoleum; while in other instances where aseparate piece of linoleum 22, as shown in Figure 4, is to cover theback wall 10 and a joint is to be made in the linoleum at saidabove-mentioned corner, metal strips 23 are secured in the corner andretain the edges of the pieces of linoleum in place. Other metal strips24 and 25 engage and attach the forward and upper edges, respectively,of the linoleum in place.

The improved watertight cover 26 forming the subject of this inventionis constructed of plastic, hard rubber, or other similar, semi-rigidmaterial molded L-shape in cross section, providing a pair of thin walls27 and 28 joined along longitudinal sides and arranged at substantiallyright angles to one another for covering linoleum surfaces rearwardly ofthe faucets of the sink, the wall 27 covering a horizontal area of thetable top, while the wall 28 covers a vertical area of the linoleumsurface on the back wall 10. The longitudinally extending, joiningportions of the walls 27 and 23 are curved, as at 29, gradually mergingthe walls into one another.

Each end of the cover 26 is ribbed, as at 30, along the ends of theWalls 27 and 28 and curved joining portions 29 to form upstanding andforwardly directed ledges for eliminating to a great extent watersplashed on said cover from running past the ends of the walls. Thesubstantially horizontal wall 27 and curved portion 29, in addition tohaving the upstanding ribs at each end,

Patented Sept. 11, 1956 v are also provided with dependingribs 31directly under and parallel with said upstanding ribs upon which thecover is adapted to rest when in place on a cabinet.

The: underiedgeszofx therribs- 3-1'ncan :bealtered': in shape' toconform to the curvaturerof: a covet 21: shown". in Figure 2 or to theprofilerof-a'metalstrip 23,'shown*=.in

Figure 4, and also shown by dotted lines-in. Figure. 5.'

Further alterations a'srindicatediby the dotted lines-'32 in Figure 5are sometimes required tothef'orward-pontions? of the ribs forextending-:properly. over the metal strip 19 and: any unevenness in'the;linoleum due to the insertion of the retaining edgerof the: molding; 19underv the linoleunr- Thewabove: alterations are essential when fittingthe cover to some types and different 'size's of, constructions inorderito provide Watertightseals under the wall 27 and to maintain:theislightrinclinationi ofthe 'wall 27 to bemassuredythatzwater will:notstand thereon;

The forward edge of the inclined wall..27 is turned said edge withathelin'oleum.v Countersunk screws 35' extending through the verticalwall28 and threaded into the wooden rear wall 10 of the 'cabinet'holdthe cover in place, while waterproof cement 36, used as'a filter, isapplied under the inclinedwall 27 between the-end ribs 31' anddownwardly curved front edge 33'and aids in supporting as well asretaining-said: inclined wall in. place.

Referring 'to'Figures 6 and 7 wherein thereis shown a modified form ofthe invention, the cover is of-a lengthslightly in excess ofthelength ofthe sink, and the substantially horizontal wall is extendedforwardlybeyondr the front of the sink for providing a construction thatcompletely surrounds the sink. Inthis case, the horizontal wall 37 has alarge, rectangular opening 38"tl1erein of a. size slightly less than theinsideiofthe metal'lincleum-retaining molding 19 and slightly greaterthan the opening ofthe sinki13: with the-edges around 'said opieik ing38 turned downwardly, as at 39, andin contacfiwith thecontinuousflat'rim .16 of. the sink. Along the -oppo'- site ends and front edge ofthe horizontal wal1"37-,ta depending rib 40 is provided which is adaptedto contact the linoleum on three sides of the sink'and support saidedges at higher elevations than other portionsof the wall for. drainageinto the sink. A pair of countersunkscrews- 41, one at each. end of. thehorizontal wall, and waterproof cement 42 thereunderibetween ribs 40'anddown turned. edges-39" support and retain the horizontal" wall;

in place.

While the embodimentof the invention shown-in Fig:

ures 6 and]. does not lend-.itselffor. usetwithtas-tmany. differentsizes of cabinets and sinks as does the form shown in the preferredembodiment, it is to be under} stood that both forms may be made invarious sizes and shapes to fit diiferent cabinet-type sinks.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjuncw tion with theaccompanyingidrawings, it is believed. that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation, and

advantages of the-device 'will be quite apparenttothose? skilled in thisart. A more detailed'description is accordingly deemed unnecessary. 7

It is to -bezunderstood, howevem that even though there is herein shownand-described a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changesmay be made without departing from the spirit and full intendment of theinvention.

What is claimedis:

A. protective attachmentfor 'covering short' areas at joinedvertical:and horizontal finished surfaces at andadjacent sinks; said: attachmentcomprising an: angled" member having a vertical upstanding wall and aslightly-f inclined-horizontal wall for covering-joined portions of saidvertical and horizontal=finished surface areas, de

pending-marrow ribs extending. across" the: entire opposite.

ends of said. inclined horizontal wall adapted to have the horizontallower" edges thereof altered to conform/to :the: contourof'saidhorizontal finished surface andengage said surfacethroughoutthe lengthof said ribs and thereby space'saidhorizon'tal wall inclined fromsaid'horizontal' finished. surfacefordrainage into a sink, a-do'wnturnededge along the: forward portion'of said inclined: horizon tal wall thathas'its' ends joined to the forward endsiofi said dependingribs,-and'..meansattachingwsaidi angled" member for watertightengagement with said finished 'sur-' faces.

References Cited in the: filei of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS511,197 Denegar, Dec. 19, 1893 1,544,430 Brown June 30,, 1925 1,605,573St'edm'aii Nov. 2, 1926 1,854,987 Fradl' Apr. 19, 1932- 19281058Kennison Sept. 26, 11933 2,001,423 Hbrner .a May 14, 1935 2,227,581Henderson Jan. 7, 1941' 2,274,317' Bonnell Feb. 24, 1942 2,310,952 GreerFeb. 16, 1943" 2,449,465 Flaker Sept. 14, 1948 2,596,735 Suarez May13,1952 2,614,014'

Stanitz Oct. 14, 2"

